When I first learned I was testing a Trax, I had a lapse in my thoughts. With its high ride height, all-wheel-drive, and nimble steering, the Chevrolet Trax is an exceptional commuter for those whose daily grinds involve a drive from the suburbs to downtown Toronto. I didn’t feel the need for a third pedal at any point during my commute. It may not be the sportiest transmission out there, but it’s exceptionally easy to get used to and is very smooth. Hence the lack of surprise as my tester was equipped with a 6-speed automatic. Naturally, in this day in age, nobody really buys manual-transmission SUVs (or CUVs). One thing I liked about the only example of Tracker I had driven back in the 90s was the availability of a 5-speed manual. While on the highway, it doesn’t dart around and is surprisingly composed for its size. Power was linear and while there is some turbo lag, the Trax gets up to highway speeds effortlessly. It puts out 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. Under the hood is the same 1.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder as the Chevrolet Sonic and a few different iterations of the Cruze. This is a pretty good chassis there is minimal body roll for a compact SUV and it handles reasonably well for what it is. The Trax is the slightly less-upscale version of the Buick Encore, and hence shares its underpinnings. I decided to sample the 2014 Chevrolet Trax LT and see how it stacks up against the other compact SUVs of today. I come from a GM family my parents have an early 2000s Envoy to this day. This market sort of died off with the 90s, and last year General Motors decided that they need to re-enter this market. A heavy stab of the left pedal is necessary to initiate ABS.Does anybody remember the Chevrolet Tracker? It was a compact economy SUV sold in the 1990s that was also sold under a few other names, such as Suzuki Vitara, Asuna Sun Runner, and Geo Tracker. TEST NOTES: Achieve best acceleration by releasing the brake pedal with the engine at 2000 rpm and by using automatic upshifts. Turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, port fuel injectionĦ-speed automatic with manual shifting mode Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback A strong leg is required to activate the ABS, but slam on the brakes with authority and the reward is a near-sports-car-grade 166-foot stop from 70 mph. We did notice that the nose dives enough to upset the Trax’s stability under hard braking. Lateral grip is lacking, but body roll is well controlled and secure. It’s never clumsy on the road, and the quick steering fosters a deft and lively feel. LOWS: Slow to accelerate, lackluster fuel economy.Īnd though it might not be quick, the 3296-pound Trax has a small-car tossability that we find endearing. HIGHS: An attractive SUV whose size is inversely proportional to its refinement. At least the little four takes its licks without much audible protest. That’s shy of the 24-mpg city figure quoted by the EPA and well short of the 31-mpg highway number. We did, and traveled 23 miles on a gallon of regular. There’s no getting around it: The Trax is slow. Equipped with four-wheel drive, our LTZ-spec Trax hit 60 mph in 9.4 seconds. Acceleration is tepid, turning downright cold with passengers and cargo aboard. As in the Encore, the Trax gets a 1.4-liter turbo four with 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque channeled through a six-speed automatic. We’d also like a bit more speed from the powertrain.
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